COLONEL LAWRENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1929, Page 4

COLONEL LAWRENCE

ENGLAND’S MYSTHIvAIAN. ARRIVAL IN LONDON. (United Press Association-'-'By Klee trio Telegraph—Copyright). ißeceived this dav at R a.in.) LONDON, Feb. 3. Air Craftsman Shaw, otherwise Colonel F. E. Lawrence, of Arabian fame, persevered in his role of mystery on arriving in Elngland from Afghanistan, and avoided would lie interviewers, landing at Plymouth in a naval pinnace before the other passengers, though he travelled as an ordinary third class passenger. Many people, including journalists awaited his arrival at Paddingon Station, but Lawrence crossed the rails to another platform and took / a taxicab by a roundabout way to bis y~ Hat at Kensington, where he refused > an interview. ‘ Recalling that the Afghan authorities priced Lawrence’s head as the world’s arch spy, the “Daily News” urges Parliament to demand the truth about Lawrence. “It is no secret that with him as the figurehead, England is credited abroad as maintaining a subtle all-seeing secret intelligence service in the East. We have been assured that he is no more than Air Craftsman Shaw, but why should a most distinguished man who held a high, important position in the British Army in wartime, and whose exploits are known world wide, be allowed to serve as a simple Air Force mechanic. It is a curious and extremely 7 - proeecding. Whatever may be the explanation we are certain it is not in V\ the interests of the service, discipline ‘ or public interest that Lawrence should \ continue to masquerade ns Air Crafts- N j, man Shaw, when his real identity is Jy notorious for lii.s activities. The matter causes undesirable speculation in almost every country in the world.”